Whee just defragged and running fast as ever...

[NoQuarter]

But I want more :) I'm wondering, aside from obvious upgrades and defragging, are there any other quick fixes to make my comp run faster?

[Underground_Man]

Higher mileage will usually produce better race times. Add a few miles of training a week and see if your computer gets any faster. Presumably your computer is already on a solid training schedule, but mix in some speed and interval workouts into your computer's routine to really cut that PR. What's your computer's PR for the 5k? 10k?

[NoQuarter]

Unfortunatly, there isn't a "WTF?!?" smiley, or I would use it. What the hell are you talking about Underground_man?

[andyt683]

Screw with your virtual memory settings for a few extra boosts, sometimes windows sets it too low.

Overclock!

Free up hard drive space on the windows partition. The more, the better (to a point).

[Smurf]

also make sure there are not a bunch of applications loading on startup that just sit using ram and you are not even using the program.

[pylar]

you could change the graphical enviremont of windows a bit, remove the soft edges, green start button, etc... just set it to best performance

[jaketo]

One thing that I do is to use a separate physical HDD dedicated purely for my swap file, and host the swap file solely on that HDD.

It's formatted using FAT rather than NTFS as the overhead is much less on FAT (although don't get me wrong, NTFS wins hands down in every way against FAT with it's increased functionality, but I don't need that functionality on a swap file :)).

This probably gives a 15-20% increase in swap file speed.

Pure g33kage :D

[NoQuarter]

#1, andyt683, how do I do that?
#2, Pylar... how do I do that :P
#3, jaketo that made about as much sense to me as interpretive dance :(

[doom777]

To remove startup programs, go to start>run
Type msconfig
A window will open up
Go to the "start up" tab, and uncheck everything you dont want to be there on start up. click ok, and restart your computer


To set best performance, go to start>right click on my computer.
Go to the advanced tab, and click on the first "settings" button. Select the "best performance" circle. Click ok twice.

[Lone_Wolf_PR]

well I never knew that lmao. Just tried it :)

[LunaticTheory]

I got one even better........ I just formatted mine and now it moves like it is brand new again.............. oh wait it might as well be brand new again. Damn didn't think about losing all of my stuff but, what the hay it moves fast again!

[TaiFei]

use system restore to go back to previous settings

[Psycho]

Generally defragging helps, having as few programs open also helps as there is more free memory and uninstalling unused programs to free up more space ^^

[Banished Angel]

just make sure ur startup file is clean... it will slow ur comp a lot if it has all this stuff in it...

[itec]

put some extra ram into ur motherboard you can overclock your computer but there is a chance it will blow up if over clocked to much....
do diskclean up ,defrag and it shud make your computer go abit faster if you have space on your motherboard add some more ram its not expencive but it will speed it up ..

[bold_ally]

Underground_man is so correct

[NoQuarter]

I'm waiting for some cash to flow into my paypal accout, expecting some soon. I'm going to upgrade my ram at that point (256 SDR simply isn't cutting it :P)

And, I'm going to clean up the startup file right now. Thanks guys, and especiall you Underground_Man, it've got it running 11 miles a day, up hills and all, it's doing quite well now.

[Dufresne]

Maybe you should post your system specs, so we know what hardware you have?

For my system I have the following (though the video card could stand to be replaced. I have 610GB of storage space (4 hard drives) and 1GB of ram, so plenty of space.


Antec Super LANBOY
1 120MM Blue LED Antec fan
1 120MM Red LED Thermaltake fan
480w Antec PSU
Asus K8V SE Deluxe
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (socket 754)
1GB Kingston PC 3200 memory
Xtasy 9600 256MB 8x AGP
Audigy 2 ZS Gamer
Pincale TV Card
Maxtor 250GB SATA Hard Drive
Western Digital 200GB SATA Hard Drive
Western Digital 80GB ATA hard drive x2 (one is an external drive)
Samsung 19 inch LCD Monitor
Dual Windows XP Professional Operating systems (64 bit + 32 bit)
Logitech Z-640 Speakers
Microsoft Wireless Keyboard/ Mouse
Floppy Drive
DVD/ CD RW Drive
52x OEM Cd- drive



PS. I am not glorifying my system, just posting a list of whats in it.

[NoQuarter]

All that I really know is this:

256 megs of 133 SDR ram (2 x 128)
Pentium 3 processor OF DOOM
20 gig harddrive

I don't really know what else to add in, but I have a pretty sticker on the monitor, as well as a pick holder for easy access when I play guitar.

[Dufresne]

Pentium 3? I think you need to upgrade that, as a Pentium 3 is very outdated. 20 gigs is not terribly bad, but most desktop hard drives come with a minimum of 80GB now (sometimes higher). As for the memory, you will want to fix that as 256 is not enough for modern PC's. 512 is usually the minimum now, but many consider 1GB to be the minimum, with some people even having 2 GB in their systems.

HOWEVER, based on the fact your system is a little dated, it might not support more recent hardware. There is a chance that the mroe recent memory (like 512) will not be supported by our motherboard.

Additionally, Penitum 3's are absolete as mentioned before, so if you replace that you will have to buy a new motherboard, as the current one would not be compatible.

With hard drives, your board will not support SATA 1 or SATA 2, so youl have to looke at a regular IDE hard drive.

Lastly, if you get a new motherboard/ CPU, you might need to go out and get a video card. (current motherboards do not have built in video chips, so you need a video card).


Sorry if that was a bit long, but I hope it helps. If you are thinking of upgrading, I'd be happy to make some recomendations. (though your case might warrant multiple upgrades)

[doom777]

put some extra ram into ur motherboard you can overclock your computer but there is a chance it will blow up if over clocked to much....
do diskclean up ,defrag and it shud make your computer go abit faster if you have space on your motherboard add some more ram its not expencive but it will speed it up ..
If he doesn't know how to clean up the start up file, no way in hell is he able to overclock.


NoQuarter, don't upgrade yuor computer. Get a new one. Your comp is very outdated, and should no longer be used. You have 1/4 of the realistic minimum required memory, an obsolete processor(get a Pentium D) and very little hard drive space (get 250 GB, and make sure its SATA)

If you want, I can make you a computer on a budget on Newegg and give you the specs. Or even build it, but then you would have to pay for shipping to you..

[Dufresne]

I don't think he has to worry about overlocking, as a Pentium 3 wasn't made for overclocking, and even if you did overlock it, it would still be way to slow.

A question that should be asked, is can NoQuarter afford a new machine? WOuld he even want to buy a new machine?

Upgrades will work, if he upgrades everything. One other thing, is that he will need a new power supply, possibly a dvd/ cd drive (or does he already have one?) and a floppy drive. A floppy drive is requried in the event you try to install Windows on a SATA I or SATA II hard drive. You have to put the raid drivers on a floppy and install them during the Windows XP installation so it can detect the SATA I or SATA II drive and install Windows on it.

Lastly, given the fact he has a Pentium 3, its likely he has an older version of Windows which he will need to replace with Windows 2000 or XP as Windows 98 is old and no longer supported by Microsoft. (Windows 2000 will only be supported until Windows Vista is out in stores)

[NoQuarter]

I am running windows XP ;) My dad built this computer for about $300 a while back, and it has served its purpose very well since. I'll probably be getting a new one or a lap top before I head off to college next year, so it's not a top priority right now.

I know it will support twice the ram that I have in it now, and that is the extent of the upgrading I'm willing/able to do.

I'm hoping to get the one for college built the same, but I don't know if I'll have the cash for software, since windows likes to charge several hundred dollars for the OS alone, and I know I'll need word, which I think is like 100 ;x

[itec]

you can get a top of the range comp for £250 i made mine for that and it runs like a dream my comp has a trillibite of harddisk space but i have payed more for that kinda space lol

[Zannahilator]

I am running windows XP ;) My dad built this computer for about $300 a while back, and it has served its purpose very well since. I'll probably be getting a new one or a lap top before I head off to college next year, so it's not a top priority right now.

I know it will support twice the ram that I have in it now, and that is the extent of the upgrading I'm willing/able to do.

I'm hoping to get the one for college built the same, but I don't know if I'll have the cash for software, since windows likes to charge several hundred dollars for the OS alone, and I know I'll need word, which I think is like 100 ;x
I´m not sure how it´s where you are but where I´m studying we have a campus license and I can buy windows XP pro legally for €40, same for office 2003. The computerservices of your university generally sell it I think.

[jaketo]

Microsoft have special licensing for academic purposes, i.e. for schools, colleges etc and for students and teachers, so you might be able to buy MS software through your school, but if not any good MS reseller will be able to help you.

The UK Microsoft site explaining Academic Licensing can be found here (http://www.microsoft.com/uk/education/how-to-buy/types-licence/), and I expect that they operate the same policy worldwide, you'll just need to find the equivilant webpage for your country.

Cheers

Jake